Practical advice blended with memoir, in an inspirational tribute to our native flora from Australia's favourite gardener, Don Burke.
This is the story of how Don Burke built his dream, transforming a bush block with virtually no soil - a barren rocky hillside in a dry rainshadow area - into a family retreat with a lush native garden that looks as if it's been there forever.
The plantings in the garden are a showcase of what can be achieved with native garden design, and how a garden can become a habitat for native wildlife. To the existing local natives, such as the beautiful old scribbly gums, Don has added a wide variety of plants that attract native birds and introduce colour, perfume and foliage textures. He has solved problems by using natives that thrive in shady areas, wet zones and even cracks in rock faces. Some plants were regenerated, many were propagated and then planted by Don, while others were given as gifts by old gardening friends. The garden has evolved over time and Don shares all the highs and lows, offering information not only on native gardens, but also on building driveways, installing ponds, dams and waterfalls, bagging bricks, keeping pets and much more. He tells the story of how he and his wife, Marea, battled to create Burke's Backyard at the same time as he battled to create this wonderful native garden, giving us an insight into the man who has become Australia's best known gardener.
Indigenous is a testament to Don Burke's commitment to educating gardeners everywhere about Australian native plants. It features their endless possibilities and shows in the most practical and inspiring way how to make a garden a beautiful place that Australian families and native wildlife can both enjoy in harmony.
